adams



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. G. ADAMS & F. T. HENSHAW. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VELOGIPEDES.

No. 477,095. Patented June 14, 1892.

(No Model.)-

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. G. ADAMS & F. T. HENSHAW.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VELOGIPEDES.

Fig.2.

Patented June 14, 1892.

m ans co., mm-umm, wlsmnomu n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK GEORGE ADAMS AND FRANCIS TOMLIN IIENSIIJUV, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VELOCIPEDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,095, dated June 14, 1892.

Application filed February 18, 1892. $eria1No. 421,992. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: G is an arm, the end G of which is screwed Be it known that we, FREDERICK GEORGE into the frame F, as shown, and bears upon a ADAMS, engineer, and FRANCIS TOMLIN HEN- flat formed upon the crank-shaft, so as to presHAW, professor of music, subjects of the vent the frame from moving relatively to the 55 Queen of Great Britaimand both residents of said crank-shaft. The opposite end of the London, England,haveinvented acertain new arm G is provided with a squared portion G and useful Improved Driving Mechanism for to which a spanner or other tool is applied Velocipedes, of which thefollowing is a speeiwhen the said arm is screwed into place. fication, reference being had to the 'aeeompa- F is a boss, which is provided with a cen- 60 IO nying drawings. tral orifice and is passed over the end of the The object of this invention is to provide arm G and screwed into the frame F, so as to slmple mechanism whereby the rates of the bear upon a shoulder G on the said arm G, angular velocity of the crank-shaft ordrivingand thus assist in retaining it in place. shaft to that of the driven wheel of the veloci- H is a sleeve rotatable upon the arm G, and 65 5 pede may be readily varied within suitable I is a bevel-wheelfirmlysecured to the sleeve limits to suit the convenience of the rider. II and gearing with a stationary bevel-wheel Aecordin g to thisinvention we gear the crank- J which in the present example is attached shaft or driving-shaft to the driven wheel of to one of the crank-shaft bearings B. the velocipede by means of an arrangement K is a toothed pinion adjustable eudwise 7o of toothed gearing similar in the principle of along the sleeve II, which in cross-section is 1ts action to an epicyclic train, but differing rectangular, the boss of the pinion K having from epicyclic trains as hitherto constructed a central orifice of corresponding form, so in certain essential features, which are herethat the pinion may rotate with but not relainafter clearly set forth. tively to the said spindle. 75 In order that our invention may be clearly H are notches upon the sleeve II, and K understood, we will now proceed to describe is a screw provided in the boss of the pinion the same with reference to the accompanying K for the purpose of engaging with the said drawings, in which notches, so that the said pinion, when suit- Figure 1 is a section on the line of the axis ably adjusted on the sleeve II, may be re- 8o 3 of the central portion of a veloeipedew11eel tained in proper position to engage with any to which improved driving mechanism accordone of the three rings E of teeth. lhe teeth ing to our invention is applied; and Fig. 2 is of the pinion K are curved on their working a side elevation of Fig. 1, certain parts of the faces, as shown, in order that they may gear mechanism being omitted for the sake of equally well with either of the said rings E. 8 clearness. If the crank-shaft A be rotated, the arm G A is the crank-shaft or driving-shaft of the will be carried round with it, and the sleeve H velocipede. B B are the bearings in which the and pinion K will always receive a constant said shaft rotates. amount of rotation about the arm G during C is the hub of the wheel, and O is an exeach revolution of the crank-shaft because of oo tension thereof, which, with the cover-plates the rotation imparted to the bevel-wheel I as C ,seeured thereto, forms a casing for containit is rolled by the arm G overthe teeth of the ing the gearing, hereinafter described, and for stationary bevel-wheel J, the amount of the preventing the access of dirt and dust thereto. said rotation depending upon the proportions Ball-bearings are provided at D between the of the wheels I and J. The angular move- 95 hub C and the crank-shaft A to permit of the ment imparted to the hub Oby the'pinion K free relative rotation of these parts. during one revolution of the crankshaft A E is a disk secured to the extension O of will be inversely proportioned to the diamethe hub and provided with three concentric ter of the particular ring of teeth on the exrings E of teeth. tension 0' with which the said pinion may I00 0 F is a frame firmly secured to the crankbe engaged, and as the said pinion may readshaft A and turning therewith. ily be moved by hand along the sleeve I-I into gear with either of the three rings E and retained in the position on the sleeve by causing the screw K to engage with either one of the notches H it will be seen that this gear affords a very simple and convenient means of varying the angular velocity of the driven wheel relatively to that of the crank-shaft or driving-shaft.

Without departing from this invention we may employ two or more arms G and wheels I and K, and the number and proportions of the rings of teeth upon the hub or upon an attachment thereto may be varied, as may be deemed desirable. Moreover, we do not limit ourselves to the use of a sleeve H of rectangular crosssection, it being essential only that such a sleeve should be employed as will permit of the pinion K being readily moved along it and firmly secured thereto.

For the wheel I and pinion J We may substitute a single wheel adjustable upon-an arm secured to the crank-shaft, the teeth of the said wheel and of the aforesaid stationary wheel and the toothed ring being so arranged that by moving the said single wheel along the arm it may be brought into gear with any one of the said rings, while remaining always in gear with the stationary wheel.

Instead of fixing the Wheel J permanently to the forks or crank-shaft bearings, it may be mounted so as to be rotatable upon a hearing, on which it is normally prevented from rotating by means of a friction-strap brake or equivalent device, and when desired the wheel J may be released from the influence of the said brake and the crank-shaft kept stationary by the feet of the rider while the machine is in motion running downhill, for instance.

hat we claim is 1. In driving mechanism for velocipedes, an epicyclic train consisting of a non-rotating gear-wheel secured to the frame or body of the machine, a series of concentric gearwheels or rings of teeth secured to or forming part of the driven wheel, and an intermediate wheel carried upon an arm secured to the driving-shaft and adapted to gear with the said non-rotating wheel and with any one of the said concentric gear-wheels or rings of teeth, substantialy as set forth.

2. In driving mechanism for velocipedes, an epicyclic train consisting of a non-rotating gear-wheel secured to the frame or body of the machine, a series of concentric gearwheels or rings of teeth secured to or forming part of the driven wheel, and an intermediate wheel carried upon an arm secured to the driving-shaft and adapted to gear with the said non-rotating gear-wheel, said intermediate wheel carrying a pinion which may be made to gear with any one of the said concentric gear-Wheels or rings of teeth, substantially as set forth.

In driving mechanism for velocipedes, the combination of the non-rotating wheel J, secured to the frame of the machine, the series of concentric rings of teeth E, secured to the driven wheel, the arm G, secured to the driving-shaft A, the intermediate wheel I, mounted on the said arm, said wheel I having a sleeve H, which carries a pinion K, and means for securing the pinion K in various positions to cause it to gear with any one of the said concentric rin gs E, substantially as set forth, and for the purpose specified.

4. In an epicyclic driving mechanism for velocipedes, the combination, with the stationary wheel and driven wheel, of an intermediate compound wheel constructed in two parts, one part of which is adapted to slide axially on the other, said compound wheel being supported by a frame F, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK GEORGE ADAMS. FRANCIS TOMLIN HENSHAXV. Witnesses;

WM. JNo. TENNANT, F. W. LE TALL, 30th of 45 Southampton Buildings, London. 

